Giselle has fans of ballet in a spin

Giselle has fans of ballet in a spin | Photos, Video

BALLERINAS: Ella Havelka (second left), posing in costume with fellow company members, began dancing at Dubbo and will return to the city with the Australian Ballet production of Giselle. Photo: CHRIS SEABROOK.

MAKING A POINT: Ella Havelka and fellow members of The Australian Ballet demonstrate their skills at Bathurst ahead of their tour to Dubbo. Photo: CHRIS SEABROOK.

It continues a trend seen earlier this year when there were two sell-out shows of Swan Lake.

All the tickets to the November 4 performance of A Festival of Russian Ballet were snapped up six weeks prior and an additional second performance has seen 150 seats secured in three days.

Ms Christof said she would say classical ballet was one of the strongest genres in the region.

“Regional audiences love to see classical ballet on a theatre stage,” she said.

“I definitely think Ella Havelka, who will be performing in the matinee is a drawcard for local audiences, anyone familiar with her story and rise to stardom.”

In essence a love story, Giselle follows an innocent village girl transformed into a tender spirit after dying of a broken heart.

The ballet offers a hauntingly beautiful, heartbreaking take on the boy-meets-girl trope.

Regional Touring ballet master Paul Knobloch said the regional performances were put together by a cast and crew of 41 people, and will star guest artists from The Australian Ballet and graduating students from The Australian Ballet School.

They have been touring Giselle in regional areas for two weeks, something Mr Knobloch said was really special.

“It is really important for us to be able to share this with a broader community in different regions to get ballet more accessible to smaller communities and also to give them the quality of the big city productions that we do,” he said.

“It is great that this can happen, that we can come out and share with local communities, different dance communities, as well as the general public.”

The Australian Ballet is giving a special peek into the daily life of its dancers.

On Saturday people will be able to go behind the scenes and watch as they take class on stage.

The session will be between midday and 12.45pm and people should register on the Australian Ballet website to attend.